Train classification and number indicator



W. H. LOWD.

TRAIN CLASSIFICATION AND NUMBER INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5, 1917.

1,354,437, Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

2 SHhE'ISSHEET I.

an new for W. b L 0 W0 WNW way.

W. H. LOWD.

TRAIN CLASSIFICATION AND NUMBER INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 5,19I7- I 7, Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

WHIorrd,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WESLEY I-I.

TRAIN CLASSIFICATION AND NUMBER INDICATOR.

Application filed January 5, 1917.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it. known that I, WVnsLnY H. Lowo, a citizen of the United States, residing at Glen Frazer, in the county ofContra Costa and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Train Classification and Number Indicators; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to a train classification and number indicator. r

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, practical and compactly arranged train classification and number 1ndicator of inexpensive and strong and durable construction adapted to be readily applied to locomotives, cars and the like and capable of enabling the train classification means and the number of the train to be indicated by a single device at a certain place on a train.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claim may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

11 the drawings Figure l is a perspective view of a train classification and number indicator constructed in accordance with this invention,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the device,

Fig. 4: is a horizontal sectional view illustrating the arrangement of the electric light and the heating means for the globe,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the indicator plates,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged elevation of the flag.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts inthe several figures of the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 28, 1920. Serial No. 140,754.

the invention, the train classification and number indicator comprises in its construction an oblong receptacle 1 designed to be constructed of sheet metal or other suitable material and to be secured at opposite sides of a locomotive or car of a train and any suitable means may be employed for mounting the casing either permanently or detachably in position on a train. The oblong casing or receptacle 1 which is pro vided with a hinged cover 2 is divided into a longitudinal series of compartments 3 by transverse partitions 4C and the casing or receptacle 1 is preferably equipped with siX compartments but any desired number of compartments may be employed and the said compartments contain a plurality of indicator plates 5 and one or more electric lamps may be stored in one of the compartments. The compartments containing the indicator plates are designed to be provided with longitudinally disposed partitions 8 connecting the transverse partitions and forming separate spaces or cells for the reception of the indicator plates 5. The indicator plates 5 which are preferably provided with openings 9 for the reception of hooks or other suitable means for enabling them to be readily withdrawn from the compartments. Letters or other characters as shown are applied to the plates. The plates may be arranged in front holding means 10 said means consisting of vertical ways formed by vertical strips 11 which are connected by a bottom strip 12 adapted to form bottoms for the holding means for supporting the plates within the holders. The spaces between the vertical strips 10 are open at the top to enable the plates to be readily i11- troduced into and removed from the hold ers and the said plates are exposed at the front of the casing or receptacle and are designed to be provided at each face with a number or letter so that by reversing them either character may be presented to view at the front of the receptacle or casing. By means of the numbers, letters and other characters, the train classification and the number of the train may be indicated in a single device at a predetermined point on a train. The indicator plates preferably exportions of the said plates to remove them.

Any other suitablemeans, however, may be employed for this purpose.

The device is provided at the front w1t'h a reflector 13 located at the upper portion of the receptacle or casing and set at an angle so as to throw the light of electric lamps 1 1 downwardly and inwardly upon the charactersof the indicator plates. The

reflector which is substantially semi-cylindrical in cross section is provided with a' plurality of sockets 1-5 to recelve the electric lamps and the latter may be connected 1n any desired manner with the lightlng current of a train. The reflector which is provided with end walls 16 forms a casing or housing for the electric lights and is adapted to protect the same. The reflector is connected with the outer portion of a longitudinally disposed pipe 17 which is supported by brackets 18 butthe reflector may be mounted in various other ways. The

- pipe 17 which is provided at one end with a coupling member'19 'isdesigned to be con- .nected with the hot air or steam pipe of a train so that steam or hot air may be discharged upon the GXtGI'lOI" of the indicator plates for removing snow and ice'in cold weather. The pipe 117 is provided at the bottom with jet apertures 20 extending downwardly and inwardly and arranged to discharge upon the indicator plates as clearly device maylof course be employed for this purpose. The socket 21 and the loop 22 are adaptedto receive the flag 7 as clearly I illustrated'in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The

receptacle or casing is provided at the other end withan electriclight. 25 mounted upon a horizontally projecting support 26 and arranged within a removable globe 27 which is threaded onto the socket member 28, a

' rubber, gasket 29 being interposed between the-globe or protector '27 and the support 26 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5 of the draw- 7 ings. The globe isadapted to be readily removed to afford access to the electric lamp which may be changed from a white one to a green one or one of another color when required. The horizontal support 26 consists of a plate or member arranged at an angle to the casing and preferably extending from one corner thereof at an angle of 45 degrees and provided with a recessed inner end 26 which fits the corner.

The receptacles or casings are designed to be made in pairs or single and when in pairs they will be right hand and left hand, so that the lamps 25 will always be visible on each at the forward end and the flags to the other. I The plates are adapted to be readily placed in and removed from the exterior holders and the pipe 17.is spaced from the upperportion of the receptacle or casing to provide. .an. opening to enable the platesto be readilyv introduced in and removed from the grooves or ways of" the holding means.

Inorder to maintain the globe "2'?" at a sufficiently hightemperature to prevent it from being entirely covered withsnow and sleet in winter and tlie'e'lectric light obsoured by the same a heating tube is employed. The heating tube which may be connected with the heating pipe of a train or other suitable means for supplying a heating fluid iscomposed of spaced vertical portions '30 piercing the support 26 and the socket member 28 and connected at the top by a curved" horizontally" disposed portion 31 arranged concentric with the" electric light and extending partially around the same in-spaced relation with the light and the globe. The curved portion of the heating tube is located preferably in aposition so as notto obscure the lightand it maybe of any desired size and length to secure the required heating effect. The lower termi nals 32 of the vertical side portions 30 of the heating pipe are threaded for enabling them to be coupled with suitable pipe connections.

The'flag 7 which may be a train classification'flag or for any other use, and which may be of any desiredcolor, preferablyof two sections and 3 1 constructed respectively of-sheet metal and fabric, the sheet metal section being preferably three-fifths the area of the flag and the fabric section two-fifths to prevent the fabric from wrapping around the staff 315. The sheet metal section 33.is preferably connected to the staff 35 by suitable rings 36 and the fabric section is connected with the sheet metal section by rings 37 linked into suitable apertures of the sheet metal section and the fabric section. The rings36' are also designed to pass through perforations of the sheet metal section and to be removably arranged on the staff so that the latter may be changed should it become broken or other wise injured. The fabric portion of the flag may be attached to the metallic portion or section by any other suitable means the detachable connection between the fabric portion and the metallic section will enable the fabric portion to be renewed or changed as required or desired.

What is claimed is An indicator comprising a casing having a sight opening located in its'front side, the edges of the opening being spaced from the edges of the said front side, transverse partitions arranged within the casing and forming a series of compartments longitudinal partitions arranged within the compartments and having their upper edges disposed below the plane of the upper edges of the transverse partition and the top of the casing, indicator plates arranged between the longitudinal partitions and extending above the same and provided with openings adapted to be engaged by an implement for removing them from the casing, and a reflector mounted upon the casing and located at the exterior thereof at a point in advance of the sight opening and at the upper portion thereof and directed downwardly toward the said sight opening.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of witnesses.

WESLEY H. LOWD.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR MCHARRY, V. HoEY, A. E. DUNKEL. 

